Tech-Supported Systems Vital to Boost Tourism Economic Gains

Addis Ababa, June 23, 2025 (ENA) – The Ministry of Tourism has emphasized that expanding technology-supported information systems is essential for enhancing the economic benefits of Ethiopia’s tourism sector.

Speaking at a forum on tourism and technology organized by the Oromia Tourism Commission, Tourism Minister Selamawit Kassa stated that tourism is one of the key economic sectors identified as a major driver of economic growth.

Despite Ethiopia’s rich natural, historical, and cultural heritage, the sector’s economic contribution has remained limited, she said.

However, Selamawit noted that following the recent reform efforts, the government has taken strategic measures to revitalize the sector, which include developing new destinations, rehabilitating existing sites, and modernizing tourism services.

As a result, she stated, the sector has started to register meaningful progress. “An enabling environment has been created, and encouraging outcomes are being observed,” the Minister noted.

Nonetheless, Selamawit underscored that much more remains to be done to fully harness the country’s vast tourism potential.

“Expanding technology-supported information systems is particularly critical to unlocking the sector’s economic value,” she stressed.

Deputy Commissioner of the Oromia Tourism Commission, Nega Wedajo explained that efforts to promote the region’s tourism assets are ongoing, with this forum forming part of a broader promotional campaign.

He added that the forum serves multiple purposes, including showcasing the use of technology in tourism, facilitating international experience sharing, and fostering discussions aimed at transforming Ethiopia’s tourism industry to a higher level of excellence.